‘Top Gun’ Lands Spot On Las Vegas Strip In Splashy Paramount Licensing Play
Paramount is teaming with Advent Allen Entertainment to bring the Top Gun franchise to the Las Vegas Strip.
The companies are developing a 2.48-acre site at 4815 Las Vegas Blvd., near Harry Reid International Airport and the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign, a popular backdrop for tourist photos. The location is also near a stadium being built for the Athletics Major League Baseball team, which is in the process of moving to town. An NBA arena is also being built nearby.
In an announcement Tuesday, the companies teased “a next-generation entertainment destination celebrating the enduring values of excellence, teamwork, courage, competition, and the exhilaration of flight.”
The first Top Gun movie in 1986 helped solidify Tom Cruise as a box office draw, grossing nearly $364 million worldwide. Follow-up Top Gun: Maverick became a sensation in 2022, collecting $1.49 billion globally, leading the charge as theatrical moviegoing rebounded from Covid, and landing an Oscar nomination for Best Picture.
Paramount confirmed last spring that a third Top Gun is in the works, with a script being written and Cruise planning to return as pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell and Jerry Bruckheimer once again producing.
Visitors to Top Gun Vegas will be able to visit the Hard Deck restaurant and bar featured in Maverick, along with other dining and retail options and experiences designed to immerse people in the world of the movies.
The venture comes as entertainment companies increasingly look to deliver experiences that go beyond what is on the screen, leaning into larger consumer spending patterns. Sphere in Las Vegas has established itself as a high-end movie venue, with a re-conceived Wizard of Oz
“We are proud to see Top Gun Vegas reach this significant milestone,” said Josh Silverman, president of global products and experiences for Paramount. “The Top Gun films have captivated audiences around the world for nearly four decades, and the Advent Allen Entertainment team has found a location in Las Vegas that exemplifies the spirit of the franchise. Top Gun Vegas will be an immersive destination that authentically celebrates the excitement, adventure, and enduring spirit of Top Gun while giving fans an entirely new way to experience the brand.”
Mark Advent, founder of Advent Allen Entertainment, said the new Vegas site is “exactly where Top Gun belongs.” He added that it “creates a powerful sense of place where the excitement of aviation, the spirit of Top Gun, and the energy of Las Vegas come together in a way that is powerful.”
